Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases

Evaluating of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Medical Students about Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Gorgan, 2021–2022

Mohammad Qolami-Dastjerdan, Farideh Kouchak, Farideh Tohidi — Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: As medical students are the future doctors and healthcare providers of the country, it is essential to evaluate their awareness, attitude, and practice about leishmaniasis. Therefore, we have decided to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of medical students in the clinical phase about cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).

Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 318 clinical students, including those in physiopathology, Extern-1, Extern-2, and internship phases at Golestan University of Medical Sciences. A questionnaire was designed, containing 28 questions divided into four sections: demographic, knowledge, attitude, and practice. Data were analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient and Chi-square tests.

Results: 318 individuals participated in the study, of which 193 (60.6%) individuals were female, and 125 (39.4%) individuals were male. 70 physiopathology students (100%), 72 Extern-1 students (93.5%), 73 Extern-2 students (92.4%), and 88 internship students (100%) had a good level of awareness. Among physiopathology students, 42 individuals (60%), 58 Extern-1 students, (75.3%), 71 Extern-2 students, (85.5%), and 88 (100%) internship individuals had a good attitude. The results of this research showed that 19 (27.1%) physiopathology students, 49 (63.6%) Extern-1 students, 27 (32.5%) Extern-2 students, and 42 (47.7%) interns had a good level of practice.

Conclusion: As future healthcare providers, medical students must possess a high level of knowledge, a positive attitude, and strong practice skills in managing conditions such as CL. Given the prevalence of this disease in the country, organizing targeted educational programs for medical students can significantly enhance their knowledge and abilities.

Organophosphate and Pyrethroid Resistance Status of Invasive Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae) from Iran

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: The growing concerns regarding the recent invasion of Aedes aegypti in Iran and the potential outbreak of dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika viruses in the country highlight the importance of assessing the susceptibility of this vector to different insecticides.

Methods: The study assessed the resistance status of Ae. aegypti resistance to insecticides such as deltamethrin, permethrin, malathion, and temephos in Bandar Abbas City, Hormozgan Province, Iran. The research followed WHO standard testing procedures for adult mosquitoes. Adult susceptibility tests were conducted using 1X the discriminating concentrations to determine the frequency and status of insecticide resistance. Additionally, 5X and 10X the discriminating concentration were used to evaluate the intensity of resistance. Larval susceptibility to temephos was tested using concentrations of 156.25, 31.25, 6.25, 1.25, and 0.25 mg/l of temephos.

Results: Adults were resistant to all three tested insecticides at WHO-recommended diagnostic concentrations (DCs). In terms of resistance intensity, Ae. aegypti exhibited low-intensity resistance to malathion and deltamethrin, while resistance to permethrin was high-intensity. Dose-response analysis regarding the susceptibility of larvae to temephos showed LC₅₀, LC_90, and LC₉₉ values of 0.013, 0.065, and 0.238 mg/l, respectively. These values indicate resistance when compared to the WHO diagnostic dose for temephos resistance of 0.012 mg/l.

Conclusion: The results of this study highlight the need for an urgent strategy to manage resistance to insecticides and strengthen the integrated management program of Ae. aegypti. This fact emphasizes the importance of reducing larval sources and promoting research on alternative methods and products.

Bionomics of Mosquito Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in Golestan National Park, a Biosphere Reserve, Northeastern Iran

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Golestan National Park is the first, oldest and most vast national park in Iran. It was registered as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1977. The park is located in Golestan, North Khorasan and Semnan Provinces. There is no information about the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in this park.

Methods: The larvae of mosquitoes were captured from various habitats using the standard 350 ml capacity dippers and also by pipettes, for small larval breeding sites, and buckets, for wells, during spring–autumn 2019. Larvae were preserved in lactophenol and mounted on microscope slides in Berlese medium and identified by morphological characters. The altitude and coordinates of the sampling localities, larval habitat characteristics and physicochemical features of habitat waters were recorded. Association and affinity indices were calculated.

Results: In total, 1349 larvae including 13 species across four genera were collected: Anopheles claviger, An. maculipennis s.l., An. moghulensis, An. superpictus s.l., Culex hortensis, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. theileri, Cx. torrentium, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Culiseta longiareolata, Cs. subochrea and Uranotaenia unguiculata. Anopheles moghulensis and Cx. torrentium were new to the region. Culiseta longiareolata (62.6%) displayed the most abundance. Anopheles maculipennis s.l., An. moghulensis and Cs. subochrea were the least specimens (0.1%). Larval habitat characteristics, physicochemical features of habitat waters, association occasions, and percentages were presented. The nitrate of water samples displayed a significant difference among the species (P= 0.003).

Conclusion: The study of bionomics of adult mosquitoes and detection of the vectors of different pathogens using serological or molecular-specific tests are recommended.

Molecular Evidence of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Ticks and Fleas Collected from Some Wild and Domestic Animals in Different Biotopes in Algeria

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Emergent vector-borne diseases have gained significant attention in recent years due to their increasing prevalence and impact on public health. With its vast geographic and ecological diversity, Algeria has limited available data on the distribution and prevalence of neglected vector-borne diseases. This study aimed to inventory hematophagous ectoparasites, including ticks and fleas, collected from domestic and wild animals such as dogs, hedgehogs, cattle, and rodents across diverse biotopes in northwestern Algeria (Mascara, Oran, Tlemcen, Sidi Bel Abbes, Mostaganem, Tiaret, and Ain Temouchent) and southern Algeria (Laghouat).

Methods: A total of 984 arthropods, comprising 609 ticks and 375 fleas, were collected from domestic and wild animals. Among these, 193 ticks and 105 fleas underwent molecular screening for Rickettsia spp. using gltA and ompA gene-specific primers.

Results: The minimum infection rate (MIR) for Rickettsia spp. was estimated at 6.37%, assuming one positive individual per pool. Quantitative PCR revealed the presence of Rickettsia massiliae in 1/68 (1.47%) of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and Rickettsia felis in 7/48 (14.58%) of Ctenocephalides felis fleas. Additionally, a novel strain of Rickettsia sp. was identified in Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus turanicus.

Conclusion: This study expands the understanding of tick- and flea-borne Rickettsia species in Algeria, highlighting the diverse range of ectoparasite-borne pathogens associated with domestic and wild animals. The findings underscore the importance of continued surveillance and molecular characterization to address the public health risks posed by these pathogens.

Expression of Phlebotomus papatasi Salivary Protein 15 (PpSP15) in COS-7 Cells

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical infection and the most prevalent vector-borne disease in Iran. There is no approved human vaccine and current treatments are restricted; some drugs are expensive and have notable side effects. Therefore, the need for the development of a safe and effective vaccine that can be produced at a low cost remains urgent. It has been shown that vaccinating animals with salivary gland homogenate or saliva components of sand flies protected against Leishmania infection. In this study, we aimed to prepare a mammalian expression vector encoding Phlebotomus papatasi salivary protein 15 (PpSP15) intended to be used as a DNA vaccine in our forthcoming studies.

Methods: In this study, we designed and constructed pcDNA3. 1, a constitutive mammalian expression vector, to encode the immunogenic protein PpSP15. The presence of the target gene was confirmed by enzymatic digestion and sequencing. The mammalian COS-7 cells were transfected with the pcDNA3.1 vector and the expression of PpSP15 protein was then examined in the cell line using Western Blotting analysis.

Results: Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing revealed the correctly constructed pcDNA3.1-PpSP15. After the transfection of the COS-7 cell line with pcDNA3.1-PpSP15 using Linear Polyethylenimine, the PpSP15 protein expression was confirmed by western blot analysis using anti-His antibody.

Conclusion: A high expression level of PpSP15 protein in COS-7 cells was achieved after the transfection of COS-7 cells, using cationic Linear Polyethylenimine. In subsequent research, this recombinant plasmid is supposed to be utilized as a candidate DNA vaccine to find its immunity induction in susceptible animal models.

Impact of Methamphetamine on the Development of the Forensically Important Species Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Drugs or poisons can affect the larvae's developmental period in cadavers, leading to variations in the post-mortem interval (PMI) calculation. One of the most misused psychostimulant drugs in Asia and North America, Methamphetamine (MA), is commonly involved in forensic entomotoxicological situations. This study investigated the impact of various MA concentrations on the developmental rate, morphology, and behavior of Lucilia sericata.

Methods: Lucilia sericata was maintained at 28 °C and 50±10% humidity in the Calliphoridae breeding laboratory at the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Chicken liver substrates with varying concentrations of MA (0, 45, 90, and 180 ng/mg) were used to produce L. sericata eggs. Ten samples were randomly selected from each treatment group for morphological analysis, including weight and size measurements, at each sampling stage (every 12 hours up to 300 hours). With a significance level of p< 0.05, the General Linear Model (GLM) Mixed Model ANOVA was used to compare the data.

Results: The development time of L. sericata was shown to be changed by Methamphetamine concentrations, which decreased by 24 hours at 90 and 180 ng/mg. Compared to the control group, larvae and pupae lengths decreased by 1.22 and 0.7 mm, respectively, at 180 ng/mg. Additionally, the weight of the larvae and pupae in the concentration mentioned above decreased by 7.52 and 7 mg, respectively, in comparison to the control group.

Conclusion: The PMI is estimated incorrectly if the presence of Methamphetamine in the corpse is disregarded.

Repellency Effect of Hydro-alcoholic Ricinus communis (Castor) Leaf Extract against Phlebotomus papatasi under Laboratory Conditions

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: The extract of seed and leave of Ricinus communis (castor plant) is rich in glycerides and fatty acids, including ricin, oleic acid, ‌palmitic acid, ‌linoleic acid and dihydroxy-stearic. This study aimed to evaluate the repellency effect of R. communis leaf extract (castor extract, CE) on Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies and compare its effectiveness with a commercial insect repellent, 10% DEET spray (positive control), under laboratory conditions.

Methods: Hydro-alcoholic extract of castor leaves was prepared, and the repellency effect and mortality rates were evaluated at different doses. The study also assessed 10% DEET (positive control) and 50 μl of 70% ethanol (negative control). The modified Wirtz method was applied using the K and D apparatus.

Results: The repellency effect of various doses of hydro-alcoholic castor extract (CE) on Ph. papatasi sand flies were evaluated. The ED₅₀ (95% CL) was calculated as 4.17 mg/cm², and ED₉₀ (95% CL) as 7.9 mg/cm² after 24 hours of exposure. At 1.6 mg/cm², the repellency effect of hydro-alcoholic CE was greater than that of 10% DEET. However, DEET exhibited higher repellency than CE at concentrations below than 1.6 mg/cm² (i.e. 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/cm²). Mortality among sand flies was observed only at high doses (1.6mg/cm²) of hydro-alcoholic CE, with the highest mortality rate recorded at 17.7%.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that 10% DEET and hydro-alcoholic castor extract exhibit strong repellency effects against Ph. papatasi sand flies, the primary vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. The findings highlight castor extract's potential as an effective sand fly repellent.

The Effects of Different Lunar Phases on Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) Biodiversity in an Important Focus of Leishmaniasis, Southeast Iran

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) caused by Leishmania tropica is endemic in most parts of Iran; however, its vector ecology has not been extensively studied. This study investigates the effects of lunar phases and climatic factors on the biodiversity and frequency of sand flies in various biotopes, with and without artificial light.

Methods: Sand flies were collected using sticky paper traps in four lunar phases (new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter). Alpha and beta diversity indices were calculated using the relevant formulas. Poisson regression analysis was used to study the relationship between lunar phases and climatic factors with the sand fly frequency.

Results: In places with artificial light, the highest richness was observed in the new moon and the first quarter (S= 7), and the highest species evenness and Shannon-Wiener indices were observed in the last quarter (E= 0.464, H= 0.832) phases. But in areas without artificial light, the maximum value of richness was in the first quarter and full moon (S= 9), and the highest value of evenness and Shannon–Wiener was in the first quarter (E= 0.748, H= 1.645). Non-parametric tests revealed that among climatic factors, only wind speed exhibited a significant correlation with sand fly frequency.

Conclusion: The highest diversity in biotopes with and without artificial light was observed in the last quarter and first quarter, respectively, and also, wind speed influenced the frequency and diversity of sand flies in different habitats, so in sand fly surveillance, it is crucial to consider these important factors.

Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases

Evaluating of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Medical Students about Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Gorgan, 2021–2022

Organophosphate and Pyrethroid Resistance Status of Invasive Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae) from Iran

Bionomics of Mosquito Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in Golestan National Park, a Biosphere Reserve, Northeastern Iran

Molecular Evidence of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Ticks and Fleas Collected from Some Wild and Domestic Animals in Different Biotopes in Algeria

Expression of Phlebotomus papatasi Salivary Protein 15 (PpSP15) in COS-7 Cells

Results: Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing revealed the correctly constructed pcDNA3.1-PpSP15. After the transfection of the COS-7 cell line with pcDNA3.1-PpSP15 using Linear Polyethylenimine, the PpSP15 protein expres­sion was confirmed by western blot analysis using anti-His antibody.

Impact of Methamphetamine on the Development of the Forensically Important Species Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Repellency Effect of Hydro-alcoholic Ricinus communis (Castor) Leaf Extract against Phlebotomus papatasi under Laboratory Conditions

The Effects of Different Lunar Phases on Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) Biodiversity in an Important Focus of Leishmaniasis, Southeast Iran

Results: Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing revealed the correctly constructed pcDNA3.1-PpSP15. After the transfection of the COS-7 cell line with pcDNA3.1-PpSP15 using Linear Polyethylenimine, the PpSP15 protein expression was confirmed by western blot analysis using anti-His antibody.